WO2011115146A1

WO2011115146A1 - Holey fiber

Info

Publication number: WO2011115146A1
Application number: PCT/JP2011/056150
Authority: WO
Inventors: 幸寛土田; 和則武笠
Original assignee: 古河電気工業株式会社
Priority date: 2010-03-16
Filing date: 2011-03-16
Publication date: 2011-09-22
Also published as: CN102782538A; EP2549306A1; JPWO2011115146A1; US8437594B2; US20120134636A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a holey fiber which comprises a centrally located core portion, and a cladding portion that is located on the outer periphery of the core portion and has air holes which are formed in layers around the core portion. The air holes are arranged so as to form triangular lattices. If the hole diameter of the air holes is represented by d [μm] and the lattice constant of the triangular lattices is represented by Λ [μm], d/Λ is within the range of 0.43 ± 0.10 and Λ is 10.5-15 μm. The effective core cross-sectional area at a wavelength of 1550 nm is not less than 130 μm², and the bend loss when bent with a diameter of 20 mm is not more than 200 dB/m. The holy fiber operates in a single mode.

Description

Holey fiber

The present invention relates to a holey fiber.

Holey fiber (HF), or photonic crystal fiber, regularly arranges holes in the cladding to lower the average refractive index of the cladding and realize light transmission using the principle of total reflection. This is a new type of optical fiber. Holey fibers have unique characteristics such as Endlessly Single Mode (ESM) characteristics that cannot be achieved with conventional optical fibers and zero-dispersion wavelength shifted to the very short wavelength side by using holes to control the refractive index of optical fibers. Characteristics can be realized. Note that ESM means that there is no cutoff wavelength, and is a characteristic that enables optical transmission at a high transmission rate over a wide band (Non-Patent Document 1).

Holey fibers are also expected to be used as low-optical nonlinear transmission media for optical communications and fiber lasers.

That is, for example, in optical communication, particularly when performing long-distance transmission and submarine transmission on land, there is a problem that the nonlinear optical phenomenon of an optical fiber as a transmission medium becomes a major obstacle to realizing long-distance high-speed transmission. . Therefore, as a method for solving this problem, a large Aeff type optical fiber with a reduced optical nonlinearity is used as a transmission medium by enlarging the core diameter of the optical fiber more than usual to increase its effective core area (Aeff). It is proposed to use. For example, Non-Patent

Document

2 and 5, in the conventional solid-type optical fiber that does not pores formed within the optical fiber, the optical fiber obtained by enlarging the Aeff and 118 .mu.m ² or 160 .mu.m ² is disclosed.

However, the solid type optical fiber has a problem that macrobend loss (bending loss) increases with increasing Aeff. The bending loss is defined as the amount of increase in the transmission loss of the fundamental propagation mode of light, that is, the LP01 mode, when the optical fiber is bent with a predetermined bending diameter.

This increase in bending loss can be suppressed, for example, by increasing the cutoff wavelength of the optical fiber. However, in order to operate an optical fiber so that light is transmitted in a single mode, there is a restriction that the cutoff wavelength of the optical fiber must be shorter than the wavelength of light to be transmitted. Therefore, in the conventional solid type optical fiber, there is a trade-off relationship between low optical nonlinearity (large Aeff), realization of single mode operation, and suppression of bending loss.

On the other hand, holey fibers can realize ESM characteristics, so the above trade-off relationship is relaxed, and low optical nonlinearity and suppression of bending loss are realized while realizing single mode operation. It is expected to be possible.

In a solid-type optical fiber, there is a trade-off relationship between large Aeff, realization of single mode operation, and suppression of microbend loss. Here, the microbend loss is an increase in the transmission loss of the LP01 mode due to a slight bend applied to the optical fiber due to minute irregularities on the surface of the bobbin when the optical fiber is wound around a bobbin, for example. Is defined as

Non-Patent Documents

3 and 4 disclose microbend loss characteristics between a holey fiber and a normal solid optical fiber.

Non-Patent Documents

3 and 4 relate to the theoretical evaluation of characteristics of holey fibers and their high power delivery applications.

Non-Patent Document 3 describes high power delivery in the visible light region and does not consider transmission applications. In Non-Patent Document 4, only one type of sectional structure of the holey fiber is mentioned, and the sectional structure that can sufficiently reduce the microbend loss is not specified.

By the way, for application to optical communications, there is a strong demand for a holey fiber that realizes single-mode operation while achieving lower optical nonlinearity and suppression of bending loss than before.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a holey fiber suitable for use in optical communication by realizing low optical nonlinearity and suppressing bending loss while realizing single mode operation. And

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the holey fiber according to the present invention is formed in a layered manner around the core portion, the core portion located in the center, and the outer periphery of the core portion. A clad portion having holes, and the holes are arranged to form a triangular lattice, and the hole diameter of the holes is d [μm], and the lattice constant of the triangular lattice is Λ [μm]. , D / Λ is within the range of 0.43 ± 0.10, Λ is 10.5 μm to 15 μm, the effective core area is 130 μm ² or more at a wavelength of 1550 nm, and bent at a diameter of 20 mm. The bending loss is 200 dB / m or less, and single mode operation is performed.

The holey fiber according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, an effective core area at a wavelength of 1550 nm is 250 μm ² or less.

The holey fiber according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the d / Λ is within a range of 0.43 ± 0.08.

The holey fiber according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-described invention, the confinement loss of the LP01 mode at a wavelength of 1550 nm is 0.02 dB / km or less.

In addition, the holey fiber according to the present invention is the transmission loss when the holey fiber is wound around the bobbin on which the sandpaper is wound on the surface, and the holey fiber is not wound on the bobbin where the sandpaper is not wound. The microbend loss defined by the difference from the transmission loss when wound is 1.5 dB / km or less at a wavelength of 1550 nm.

The holey fiber according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the microbend loss is 0.3 dB / km or less.

The holey fiber according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, the outer diameter is larger than 130 μm.

In the holey fiber according to the present invention, the absolute value of the chromatic dispersion value is 30 ps / nm / km or less at a wavelength of 1550 nm, and the dispersion slope value is 0.06 ± 0.02 ps / nm ² / The DPS value, which is a value obtained by dividing the chromatic dispersion value at a wavelength of 1550 nm by the dispersion slope value, is 360 nm or more.

The holey fiber according to the present invention achieves an effect of being suitable for use in optical communication by realizing low optical nonlinearity and suppressing bending loss while realizing single mode operation.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an HF according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the effective core area Aeff and the bending loss at a wavelength of 1550 nm for HF having the same cross-sectional structure as the HF shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the effective core area Aeff and the bending loss at a wavelength of 1550 nm for the HF having d / Λ of 0.43 shown in FIG. 2 and the SIF to be compared. FIG. 4 shows, as calculation examples 1 to 10, a cross-sectional structure similar to that of the HF shown in FIG. 1, but the relationship between design parameters and optical characteristics at a wavelength of 1550 nm for HF having four hole layers. FIG. FIG. 5 shows, as calculation examples 11 to 17, design parameters when d / Λ is set to 0.51 for an HF having the same cross-sectional structure as the HF shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship with each optical characteristic in wavelength 1550nm. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between design parameters for HF in which the number of hole layers is reduced to 3 with respect to HF shown in FIG. 5 and respective optical characteristics at a wavelength of 1550 nm as calculation examples 18 to 24. . FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the number of hole layers and the confinement loss of the LP01 mode at a wavelength of 1550 nm in HF having the same cross-sectional structure as HF shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a view showing an enlarged photograph of a cross section of the manufactured HF according to Example 1. FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a transmission loss spectrum of the HF according to the first to third embodiments and the SIF according to the reference example. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a microbend loss spectrum of HF according to Examples 1 to 3 and SIF according to Reference Example 1. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a microbend loss spectrum of the SIF according to Reference Examples 2 and 3. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a microbend loss spectrum of HF according to Examples 4-7. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing design parameters and measured optical characteristics of the HF according to Examples 1 to 7 and the SIF according to Reference Examples 1 and 2.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a holey fiber according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. Hereinafter, the holey fiber is referred to as HF as appropriate. In this specification, the cutoff wavelength (λc) is ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union) This refers to the fiber cutoff wavelength defined in 650.1. For terms not specifically defined in this specification, ITU-T G. It shall follow the definition and measurement method in 650.1.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an HF according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the HF 10 includes a core part 11 located at the center and a clad part 12 located on the outer periphery of the core part 11. The core part 11 and the clad part 12 are both made of pure silica glass to which no dopant for adjusting the refractive index is added.

The clad part 12 has holes 13 formed in a layer around the core part 11. In addition, if the combination of the vertices of the regular hexagon centering on the core portion 11 and the holes 13 disposed on each side is one layer, the number of the holes 13 in the HF 10 is five. The holes 13 are formed in a layered manner and are arranged so as to form a triangular lattice L. The diameters of the holes 13 are all d, and the lattice constant of the triangular lattice L, that is, the distance between the centers of the holes 13 is Λ.

In this HF 10, d / Λ, which is the ratio of d and Λ, is set within a range of 0.43 ± 0.10, preferably 0.43 ± 0.08, and Λ is set to 10.5 μm to 15 μm. . As a result, at the wavelength of 1550 nm, the effective core area is 130 μm ² or more, the bending loss when bent at a diameter of 20 mm is 200 dB / m or less, and a single mode operation is realized. However, in order to ensure better bending characteristics and single mode operation, the effective core area is preferably 250 μm ² or less. That is, this HF10 has a low optical nonlinearity due to a large Aeff, has a practical bending loss characteristic capable of transmitting light even when wound around a diameter of 20 mm assumed for cable formation, and It has single-mode operating characteristics and is suitable for use in optical communications.

In the present specification, the confinement loss in the first higher-order propagation mode of light, that is, the LP11 mode is 0.2 dB / m or more, and the confinement loss in the base propagation mode, that is, the LP01 mode is 0.02 dB / km. In the following cases, the HF is defined as operating in a single mode. The confinement loss is a loss generated when a part of light propagating through the core portion of the HF leaks from the core portion through a gap between the holes. This value of 0.2 dB / m means that a loss of 20 dB occurs only when the LP11 mode of light propagates through HF for 100 m. Therefore, when performing optical transmission of at least several km or more using this HF as an optical transmission line, the LP11 mode is sufficiently attenuated and only the LP01 mode propagates substantially.

In addition, the confinement loss of the LP01 mode of light is 0.02 dB / km or less at a wavelength of 1550 nm, and the HF 10 is sufficiently small to have almost no influence on the transmission loss.

This HF10 can reduce the microbend loss at a wavelength of 1550 nm to 0.3 dB / km or less, for example, if the outer diameter (cladding diameter) is larger than 130 μm.

That is, in Non-Patent Document 5, when Aeff is increased with respect to a single step solid index SIF (Step Index Fiber) having a normal step index type refractive index profile, the microbend is increased by increasing the cladding diameter. It is known that loss can be suppressed. Therefore, since it is considered that the microbend loss can be further suppressed by increasing the outer diameter with respect to the HF having holes in the cladding region as in the first embodiment, it is more desirable to use the HF. Bend characteristics are obtained.

In this HF10, the number of pore layers is five. However, the number of pore layers may be appropriately increased or decreased as long as each of the above-described effective core cross-sectional area, bending loss, and single mode operation characteristics is achieved.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to a calculation result using a simulation by a vector finite element method. Hereinafter, the bending loss means a bending loss at a diameter of 20 mm.

First, the relationship between the effective core area Aeff and the bending loss will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the effective core area Aeff and the bending loss at a wavelength of 1550 nm for an HF having the same cross-sectional structure as the HF 10 shown in FIG. Note that d / Λ is set to 0.35 to 0.53. Further, Λ is set such that Aeff is a value shown on the horizontal axis for each set d / Λ. Further, in FIG. 2, a line L1 indicates a position where the bending loss is 200 dB / m. As shown in FIG. 2, in HF, the bending loss increases as Aeff increases.

In each data point shown in FIG. 2, the combination of lambda and Aeff is the case d / lambda is 0.35 is the ^{(9μm, 126.1μm 2), (} 10μm, 153.8μm 2) . Further, when d / Λ is 0.38, they are (10 μm, 143 μm ² ), (11 μm, 172 μm ² ), (11.2 μm, 178.4 μm ² ). Further, when d / Λ is 0.43, they are (10 μm, 126 μm ² ), (11 μm, 149 μm ² ), (12 μm, 178 μm ² ). Further, when d / Λ is 0.48, they are (11 μm, 141 μm ² ) and (12 μm, 167 μm ² ). Further, when d / Λ is 0.53, they are (11.4 μm, 139 μm ² ), (12.5 μm, 166 μm ² ), (13 μm, 179 μm ² ).

When d / Λ is set to 0.33, if Λ is 9 μm, Aeff is 132.61 μm ² and the bending loss is 153.68 dB / m.

Here, as the HF for the long-distance optical transmission line, it is preferable to suppress the optical nonlinearity as compared with the conventional optical fiber, so that Aeff is preferably set to 130 μm ² or more. In consideration of laying as an optical transmission line, the bending loss is preferably 200 dB / m or less. As shown in FIG. 2, when d / Λ is 0.33 or more, preferably 0.35 or more, Λ is appropriately selected in the range of 10.5 μm to 15 μm, and bending is performed while Aeff is 130 μm ² or more. The loss can be 200 dB / m or less.

As disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, when d / Λ is made larger than 0.43, the ESM characteristics are impaired and the confinement loss of the LP11 mode is lowered. Therefore, the value of d / Λ is 0.53 or less, preferably 0.51 or less, so that the confinement loss in the LP11 mode is 0.2 dB / km (0.0002 dB / m) or more.

Therefore, d / Λ is 0.43 ± 0.1, preferably 0.43 ± 0.08. In order to make the bending loss 200 dB / m or less in this d / Λ range, it is more preferable that Aeff is 250 μm ² or less.

Next, the relationship between the effective core area Aeff and the bending loss is compared for HF having d / Λ of 0.43 shown in FIG. 2 and a normal optical fiber (SIF). The SIF used for comparison has a cutoff wavelength set to 1.53 μm, which is the short wavelength end of a wavelength band called a C band (1.53 μm to 1.56 μm). It describes.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the effective core area Aeff and the bending loss at the wavelength of 1550 nm for the HF having d / Λ of 0.43 shown in FIG. 2 and the SIF to be compared. In FIG. 3, the core diameter of the SIF and the relative refractive index difference Δ between the core and the clad are changed so that the cutoff wavelength is maintained at 1.53 μm. Then, Aeff and bending loss are calculated using the changed core diameter and relative refractive index difference Δ.

As shown in FIG. 3, the Aeff-bending loss characteristics are substantially the same between HF and SIF with d / Λ of 0.43. That is, in the present embodiment, HF with d / Λ of 0.43 can realize the Aeff-bending loss characteristic similar to the conventional SIF. Since HF with d / Λ of 0.43 has ESM characteristics as described above, there is no restriction that the cutoff wavelength is 1.53 μm as in the conventional SIF. Therefore, this HF operates in a single mode even at a wavelength of 1.53 μm or less, and is more suitable for optical transmission in a wide band.

Next, chromatic dispersion characteristics of the HF according to the present embodiment will be described. The chromatic dispersion characteristic of the HF according to the present embodiment is largely governed by the material dispersion characteristic of the glass material. At a wavelength of 1550 nm, the absolute value of the chromatic dispersion value is 30 ps / nm / km or less, and the dispersion slope value Is in the range of 0.06 ± 0.02 ps / nm ² / km. These chromatic dispersion value and dispersion slope value are obtained from ITU-T G. The characteristics are relatively close to those of the single mode optical fiber (SMF) defined in 652. Further, a DPS (Dispertion Per Slope) value, which is a value obtained by dividing the chromatic dispersion value of HF according to the present embodiment by the dispersion slope value, is 360 nm or more at a wavelength of 1550 nm, and is a standard DPS value of SMF. Greater than 300 nm. Therefore, the HF according to the present embodiment can be easily compensated for dispersion using an SMF dispersion compensating optical fiber when used as an optical transmission line.

Next, the present invention will be further described with reference to more specific calculation examples. FIG. 4 shows, as calculation examples 1 to 10, a cross-sectional structure similar to that of the HF 10 shown in FIG. FIG. In FIG. 4, as for design parameters (structural parameters), d / Λ is set to 0.43, and Λ is set to 8 μm to 17 μm. Regarding the confinement loss, “LP01” indicates the confinement loss in the LP01 mode, and “LP11” indicates the confinement loss in the LP11 mode. In addition, when d / Λ in FIG. 4 is 0.43, the bending loss value tends to increase as Λ increases, so in FIG. It approximates and shows the value in the approximate curve.

As shown in calculation examples 4 and 5 in FIG. 4, when d / Λ is 0.43 and Λ is 11 and 12 μm, the effective core area Aeff is 130 μm ² or more and the bending loss of the LP01 mode Becomes 200 dB / m or less. Further, the confinement loss of the LP01 mode is 4.94 × 10 ⁻³ dB / km or less, which is sufficiently small so as to hardly affect the transmission loss. Further, the confinement loss in the LP11 mode is 67.1 dB / m or more, which is sufficiently larger than 0.2 dB / m, and a sufficient single mode operation is realized.

In all of Calculation Examples 4 and 5, the absolute value of the chromatic dispersion value is 30 ps / nm / km or less, the dispersion slope value is within the range of 0.06 ± 0.02 ps / nm ² / km, and the DPS value Is 360 nm or more, which is a preferable value.

Next, FIG. 5 shows calculation examples 11 to 17 where d / Λ is set to 0.51 for HF having the same cross-sectional structure as HF 10 as in FIG. 4 but having four hole layers. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the design parameter in the case of having performed, and each optical characteristic in wavelength 1550nm. In FIG. 5, Λ is set to 10 μm to 16 μm.

As shown in FIG. 5, when d / Λ is 0.51, the number of hole layers is 4, and when Λ is 11 μm to 15 μm, the confinement loss in the LP11 mode is 1.86 × 10 ⁻² dB / Since it is as small as m or less, sufficient single mode operation is not guaranteed.

On the other hand, FIG. 6 shows, as calculation examples 18 to 24, the relationship between the design parameters for HF in which the number of hole layers is reduced to 3 with respect to the HF shown in FIG. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, when d / Λ is 0.51, assuming that the number of hole layers is 3, when Λ is set to 11 μm to 15 μm as shown in Calculation Examples 19 to 23, effective core breakage is achieved. The area Aeff is increased to 130 μm ² or more, and the bending loss of the LP01 mode is 200 dB / m or less. Further, the confinement loss of the LP01 mode is 1.69 × 10 ⁻² dB / km or less, which is sufficiently small so as to hardly affect the transmission loss. Further, the confinement loss in the LP11 mode is 0.23 dB / m or more, and a sufficient single mode operation is realized.

In any of Calculation Examples 19 to 23, the absolute value of the chromatic dispersion value is 30 ps / nm / km or less, the dispersion slope value is within the range of 0.06 ± 0.02 ps / nm ² / km, and the DPS value Is 360 nm or more, which is a preferable value.

As described above, if the number of hole layers is decreased while the value of d / Λ is kept constant, the confinement loss of the LP11 mode can be increased, but the confinement loss of the LP01 mode also increases accordingly. . Therefore, the number of hole layers may be set so that the confinement loss in the LP11 mode and the LP01 mode becomes a preferable value with respect to the setting of d / Λ and Λ.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the number of pore layers and the confinement loss of the LP01 mode at a wavelength of 1550 nm in HF having the same cross-sectional structure as HF 10 shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, d / Λ is set to 0.43 or 0.51, and Λ is set to 12 μm. A line L2 indicates a position where the confinement loss is 0.02 dB / km. In the known HF, the transmission loss is at least about 0.2 dB / km. Therefore, if the confinement loss in the LP01 mode is 0.02 dB / km or less, the transmission loss is sufficiently small that the transmission loss is hardly affected. It is considered to be a small value.

In the HF shown in FIG. 7, when d / Λ is 0.51, even if the number of hole layers is 3, the confinement loss of the LP01 mode is 0.012 dB / km, which is 0.02 dB / km or less. The value is small enough that it hardly affects the loss. When d / Λ is 0.43, a confinement loss of 0.02 dB / km or less can be realized if the number of hole layers is 4 or more.

In FIG. 7, Λ is set to 12 μm. However, even if Λ is set to 11 μm to 15 μm, the confinement loss value in each mode is almost the same as when Λ is 12 μm.

Next, the present invention will be further described with reference to examples. As Examples 1 to 7 of the present invention, HF was produced by using a known stack and draw method using a solid glass rod made of pure silica glass and a hollow glass capillary tube. The design parameters for HF according to Examples 1 to 7 were as follows. That is, in Example 1, d / Λ was 0.43, Λ was 10.5 μm, and the outer diameter (cladding diameter) was 186 μm. In Example 2, d / Λ was 0.34, Λ was 10.2 μm, and the outer diameter was 186 μm. For Example 3, d / Λ was 0.43, Λ was 10.6 μm, and the outer diameter was 215 μm. For Example 4, d / Λ was 0.43, Λ was 10.9 μm, and the outer diameter was 186 μm. In Example 5, d / Λ was 0.43, Λ was 10.9 μm, and the outer diameter was 186 μm. In Example 6, d / Λ was 0.43, Λ was 10.9 μm, and the outer diameter was 161 μm. In Example 7, d / Λ was 0.45, Λ was 11.4 μm, and the outer diameter was 186 μm. The number of pore layers was 5 in each of Examples 1 to 4, and 4 in Examples 5 to 7.

For comparison with Examples 1 to 7, particularly the microbend loss characteristics, ordinary solid SIFs were manufactured by a known VAD method (Reference Examples 1 to 3). For the SIF according to this reference example, the cutoff wavelength is 1.53 μm, and the effective core area Aeff is 114.2 μm ² (Reference Example 1), 130 μm ² (Reference Example 2), or 115 μm ² (Reference Example 3). Thus, the core diameter and the relative refractive index difference Δ were set, and the outer diameter was 186 μm. In addition, in order to make the material of the core portion of this SIF the same as that of the HF core portions of Examples 1 to 7, the core portion was made of pure silica and the cladding portion was made of fluorine-added silica.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an enlarged photograph of a cross section of the manufactured HF of Example 1. FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, it was confirmed that the produced HF did not collapse all the pore structures and the pore diameter was substantially uniform.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing transmission loss spectra of the HF according to Examples 1 to 3 and the SIF according to Reference Example 1. In FIG. 9, the peak of transmission loss near the wavelength of 1400 nm is due to absorption by OH groups in the optical fiber. As shown in FIG. 9, it was confirmed that both the HF according to Examples 1 to 3 and the SIF according to Reference Example 1 have a transmission loss characteristic without any problem. For example, the transmission loss of the HF according to Example 1 at a wavelength of 1550 nm was 5.02 dB / km.

Next, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a microbend loss spectrum of HF according to Examples 1 to 3 and SIF according to Reference Example 1. The microbend loss includes transmission loss when each optical fiber is wound around a bobbin around which sandpaper of # 1000 is wound, and each optical fiber wound around the bobbin where no sandpaper is wound. When the transmission loss was measured, it was defined as the difference between these transmission losses. However, the bobbin diameter is 160 mm. The microbend loss defined by this measurement method will be referred to as the microbend loss by the second measurement method. The microbend loss by the second measurement method is preferable because the influence of the bending loss is smaller.

As shown in FIG. 10, it was confirmed that both the HF according to Examples 1 to 3 and the SIF according to the reference example have a problem-free microbend loss characteristic.

Next, FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a microbend loss spectrum of the SIF according to Reference Examples 2 and 3. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a microbend loss spectrum of HF according to Examples 4-7. The microbend loss is the transmission loss when each optical fiber is wound around a bobbin wound with # 1000 sandpaper on the surface, and when each optical fiber is unwound from the bobbin to be in a bundled state. The transmission loss was measured and defined as the difference between these transmission losses. However, the bobbin diameter is 160 mm. Note that the microbend loss defined by this measurement method is referred to as the microbend loss by the first measurement method. In the first and second measurement methods, the diameter of the bobbin to be used is not particularly limited, but is preferably 80 mm or more and 200 mm or less with a small bending loss.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, although the microbend loss of the HFs according to Examples 4 to 7 is larger than the microbend loss of the SIFs according to Reference Examples 2 and 3, both are values that have no practical problem. It was.

Furthermore, FIG. 13 is a diagram showing design parameters and measured optical characteristics of HF according to Examples 1 to 7, SIF according to Reference Examples 1 and 2. In FIG. 13, “λc” means a cutoff wavelength, and “ESM” means that an ESM characteristic is realized. “PMD” means Polarization Mode Dispersion. For each optical characteristic, values at a wavelength of 1550 nm are shown except for the cutoff wavelength λc. Moreover, in FIG. 13, about the microbend loss, both the microbend loss by the 1st measuring method and the 2nd measuring method is shown.

As shown in FIG. 13, all of the HFs according to Examples 1 to 7 have ESM characteristics at a wavelength of 1550 nm, Aeff is 130 μm ² or more, and bending loss is 200 dB / m or less. The characteristics are almost as designed. In addition, the HF according to Examples 1 to 7 has a wavelength dispersion value of 30 ps / nm / km or less and a dispersion slope value of 0.06 ± 0.02 ps / nm ² / km at a wavelength of 1550 nm. A preferred value of being within was obtained. Further, HF according to Examples 1 to 7 was a preferable value with a DPS value of 360 nm or more. Furthermore, the HF values according to Examples 1 to 7 were values of about 2 ps / rkm or less with respect to PMD.

In addition, the HF according to Examples 1 to 7 had a microbend loss of 2.0 dB / km or less, or more preferably 1.0 dB / km or less, which is preferable according to the first measurement method. In addition, HF according to Examples 1 to 7 had a microbend loss by the second measurement method of preferably 1.5 dB / km or less, or more preferably 0.3 dB / km or less. Note that HF having a microbend loss of 1.5 dB / km or less according to the second measurement method is preferred because it is a value that can be used practically without problems. Also, if the microbend loss by the second measurement method is 0.3 dB / km or less, the transmission loss is approximately the same as the general transmission loss level of optical fiber, which is about 0.2 dB / km. It is more preferable because it is a level with little influence on

In addition, when the HF according to Example 1 is compared with the SIF according to Reference Example 1, the outer diameter is the same and Aeff is larger in HF, but the microbend loss by the second measurement method is almost the same. It was.

Further, when the HF according to Example 2 is compared with the SIF according to Reference Example 1, the outer diameter is equal and Aeff is sufficiently larger in HF, but the increase in microbend loss is suppressed. For example, in the second measurement The microbend loss due to the method was a value with no problem of 0.3 dB / km or less.

Furthermore, the outer diameter of the HF according to Example 3 is larger than that of the HF according to Example 1. Thus, it was confirmed that the microbend loss by the second measurement method was as extremely low as 0.02 dB / km, and that it was reduced to an extent that practically no loss due to microbend occurred.

Furthermore, when comparing the HF according to Example 4 and Example 5, the microbend loss is smaller in Example 4 in both the first measurement method and the second measurement method. In Example 4 and Example 5, the values of d / Λ, Λ, and outer diameter are the same, but Example 4 has a larger number of pore layers. Here, it is considered that the pore layer plays a role of a cushion that alleviates the degree of external stress reaching the core portion. In the HF according to the fourth embodiment, the function of the cushion is larger because there are many pore layers. Therefore, it is considered that the microbend loss is smaller than that of the HF according to the fifth embodiment.

Furthermore, when HF according to Example 5 and Example 7 is compared, the microbend loss is smaller in Example 7 in both the first measurement method and the second measurement method. In Example 5 and Example 7, the value of the outer diameter and the number of pore layers are the same, but Example 7 is larger in d / Λ. In the HF according to Example 7, since d / Λ is large, the cross-sectional area of the holes in the cross section of the cladding portion is large. Therefore, it is considered that the function of the air hole cushion becomes larger and the microbend loss is smaller than that of the HF according to the fifth embodiment. Note that d / Λ is preferably set to such a magnitude that the HF does not transmit light of a desired wavelength in multimode.

The present invention is not limited by the above embodiment. All other embodiments, examples, operation techniques, and the like made by those skilled in the art based on the above-described embodiments are all included in the present invention.

As described above, the holey fiber according to the present invention is suitable for use in the field of optical communication, for example.

10 HF
11 Core part 12 Cladding part 13 Hole L Triangular lattice L1, L2 wire

Claims

A core part located in the center;
A clad portion that is located on the outer periphery of the core portion and has holes formed in a layer around the core portion;
And the holes are arranged so as to form a triangular lattice, and the hole diameter of the holes is d [μm] and the lattice constant of the triangular lattice is Λ [μm], d / Λ is 0.43. Within a range of ± 0.10, Λ is 10.5 μm to 15 μm, the effective core area is 130 μm 2 or more at a wavelength of 1550 nm, and the bending loss when bent at a diameter of 20 mm is 200 dB / m or less. A holey fiber characterized by having a single mode operation.
The holey fiber according to claim 1, wherein an effective core area at a wavelength of 1550 nm is 250 μm 2 or less.
The holey fiber according to claim 1, wherein the d / Λ is within a range of 0.43 ± 0.08.
The holey fiber according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the confinement loss of the LP01 mode at a wavelength of 1550 nm is 0.02 dB / km or less.
Micro is defined by the difference between the transmission loss when the holey fiber is wound around the bobbin around which the sandpaper is wound and the transmission loss when the holey fiber is wound around the bobbin where the sandpaper is not wound. The holey fiber according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bend loss is 1.5 dB / km or less at a wavelength of 1550 nm.
The holey fiber according to claim 5, wherein the microbend loss is 0.3 dB / km or less.
7. The holey fiber according to claim 5, wherein the outer diameter is larger than 130 μm.
At a wavelength of 1550 nm, the absolute value of the chromatic dispersion value is 30 ps / nm / km or less, the dispersion slope value is in the range of 0.06 ± 0.02 ps / nm 2 / km, and the chromatic dispersion value at the wavelength of 1550 nm is dispersed. The holey fiber according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a DPS value, which is a value divided by a slope value, is 360 nm or more.